Be A Donkey!

When they reached Jerusalem, Jesus sent two disciples with these instructions: “Go over to the village across from you. You will find a donkey tethered there with her colt. Untie her and bring them to me. If anyone asks what you are doing, say, ‘The Master needs them.’ He will send them with you.” Matthew 21:1-3

During my young years, I grew up around many different animals such as cows, horses, pigs, chickens, plus the usual dogs and cats, but I only had one experience with a donkey. The donkey was walking along a fence and I was on the other side, something spooked him, and he let out an screeching “Hee Haw” while kicking both of his back legs straight out behind him. Since that day, I have had no interest in getting to know a donkey.

After that experience, it’s pretty interesting to me that in the first public acknowledgement of Jesus as the Messiah, He chose to enter Jerusalem on the back of a donkey. It seems that a stallion, a camel, or even an old gray mare would be much more appropriate than a big earred, loud mouthed donkey.

However, in researching this strange animal, there are many things about donkeys that I had not bothered to learn. Donkeys have been around for over six thousand years being domesticated in North Africa and Egypt. In Greece, they were used to work the vineyards, and the Roman army used them in agriculture and as pack animals.

Donkeys differ physically, mentally, and emotionally from horses. They are highly intelligent creatures, sociable and calm, and they are capable of independent thinking and decision making. They are strong and won’t do something they consider unsafe which gives them the reputation of being stubborn. They are great, trusted companions, and are altogether quite amazing!

This humble animal was chosen by God to showcase His son riding through the streets of Jerusalem while cheering crowds lined the street chanting Hosannah in the Highest and waving palm branches because of his characteristics. A horse might have been spooked, a camel might have lain down, and an old grey mare might have run with fear, but the donkey stayed steadfast and walked our Savior through the streets not taking a misstep.

Corrie Ten Boom, a devout Christian who helped shelter hundreds of Jewish people from Nazis during World War II, was asked how she stayed humble despite her fame. She said, “When Jesus rode into Jerusalem on the back of a doneky and everyone was waving palm branches and throwing garments into the road and singing praises, do you think that for one moment it ever entered the head of that donkey that any of that was for him? If I can be the donkey on which Jesus Christ rides in his glory, I give him all the praise and all the honor.”

In short, if God can use a donkey in His service, surely He can use all of us as well. The question is, “How can we be ready to serve Him when he needs us?” First, just like a donkey, we should be surefooted. When trials come our way we need to maintain our present course and keep on the path of the straight and narrow. Christ wants individuals who will do what is right and stay the course.

Next, we must be dependable. Just like donkeys, we have our flaws, but with Christ as our example, we can become dependable and faithful to His calling. Just like the donkey, we must be true to our cause and to our duty!

Finally, we have to be workers. Sometimes we complain about not having enough time to work for the good of the kingdom, but Christ was the ultimate example of working tirelessly for others. If we could be more like the donkey, we would never complain about carrying the burden because Christ bore all of ours.

This PalmSunday, instead of focusing on the Hosannas and waving the palm branches, remember that Jesus told his followers that in order to follow Him, they’d need to carry or take up their cross. This year, be a donkey and lift Jesus up to a world that desperately needs to hear the good news of the resurrection. How well do we carry our Savior?